Best Dog Shampoos UK | Puppy Shampoo | Smart Bark (2024)

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A great dog shampoo is your secret weapon for keeping your four-legged friend looking and smelling their best.

Choosing the right shampoo for your dog is essential as it will not only keep their coat in tip top condition, but help deal with underlying dry and itchy skin conditions, dandruff and even fleas.

MARCH 2023 : UPDATE After a new round of testing, we've added The Healthy Dog Company Flea Shampoo as a Top Pick

Best Dog Shampoos UK | Puppy Shampoo | Smart Bark (1)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Buying Advice for Dog Shampoo

How to Choose the Best Dog Shampoo

Our Picks of the Best Dog Shampoo for 2024

1. Best Overall - Groom Professional

2. Best Organic Shampoo - Green People

3. Best Dog Grooming Range - Pet Head

4. Best Shampoo for Poodles - Choca-Doodle

5. Best Luxury Shampoo for Dogs - Ouai

6. Best Shampoo for Puppies - WildWash

7. Best Flea Shampoo - The Healthy Dog Co.

8. Best Shampoo for White Dogs - Wahl

9. Best for Sensitive Skin - Vet's Best

10. Best Deep Cleaning - Animology

Top Tips for Bathing your Pooch

FAQs

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Buying Advice for Dog Shampoo

Dog shampoos are big business. With 33 per cent of UK households owning a dog, grooming product sales have exploded and the upmarket beauty brands have sat up and taken notice.

So how do you know that you are buying a good quality shampoo for your four-legged friend?

The first thing to say is that this isn't a 'one size fits all' answer. There's no single shampoo which is best for all dogs or all situations. Dogs shampoos are as different as the dogs themselves.

Ideally you should look out for a shampoo with ingredients that are sensitive to skin and reduce any unwanted irritation.

Never be tempted to use human shampoo to wash your dog. Human skin and dog skin have different pH balances. Human shampoo can disrupt the natural oils on your dog's coat, which can lead to dryness, itchiness, and irritation.

Ultimately, all of the shampoos we feature in our Top 10 are kind to your dogs skin.

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How to Choose the Best Dog Shampoo

If you're struggling to choose a shampoo for your pampered pooch, here are a few points to consider :

Problem Skin

If your dog suffers with dry or itchy skin, they're sensitive or prone to allergies, take a look at the natural dog shampoos which avoid adding harsh chemicals and ensure their shampoos are pH balanced for dogs.

Type of Coat

A Labrador coat is very different from a poodle's coat and they need to be treated as such. Some shampoos have been specifically formulated with coat types in mind.

Colour of Coat

Very pale or white coats can always benefit from a specifically formulated whitening shampoo. These shampoos are great at removing tear stains and can keep that pale fur shining bright.

Foam

Everyone loves lots of foam as it makes us feel our dogs are super clean. However, the more foam created, the more time it takes to rinse.

Reduced foam shampoos are aimed at making the whole process quicker which might be perfect if your dog hates bathing.

To keep your pampered pooch happy, clean and smelling gorgeous, here are our picks of the best dog and puppy shampoos in the UK for 2024.

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Our Picks of the Best Dog Shampoo for 2024

1. Best Overall Dog Shampoo

Groom Professional

Specification

Coat Type - All

Scent - Long Lasting

Dilute - No

Reasons to Buy

+ Amazing smell

+ Great general shampoo

+ Range of bottle sizes

+ Great value

Reasons to Avoid

- Doesn't cater for specific skin issues

- Needs a bit of work to lather

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We rate Groom Professional Baby Fresh the best dog shampoo for most dogs. It's ideal if your dog loves to roll around in the mud or splash in stinky puddles.

In testing we found that it is the best smelling with a totally gorgeous baby powder scent which lasts for several days.

A firm favourite with dog groomers everywhere and Freddie our cockapoo, we found when testing that it deep cleans, leaving a soft felling and fresh smelling coat.

Made in the UK, it's crafted with moisturising aloe vera so is gentle enough for you to use once a week to cater for some seriously muddy dog walks. It works particularly well on double coats.

The truth is that this is a great all-round shampoo if your dog doesn't have any specific needs or allergies.

We found that it does take some work to get the shampoo to lather, but don't be tricked into adding more, a little really does go a long way.

Available in three different sizes so you can try it out without investing too much with the smallest 250ml bottle or save money by bulk buying a 4Lt bottle. Dog conditioners are also available.

Buying Options

2. Best Organic Dog Shampoo

Green People - allPaws

Specification

Coat Type - All types

Scent - Unscented and Wild Mint

Dilute - No

Reasons to Buy

+ Organic

+ Great value gift set

+ Lathers easily

+ Includes a dog treat ball

Reasons to Avoid

- Doesn't cater for specific skin issues

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Whilst you’ll find a wide range of so called 'organic' dog grooming products on the market which aren't necessarily organic, a great place to start is the new allPaws range from Green People.

A pioneering organic skin care brand, they have recently launched some deluxe dog shampoos.

The shampoos can be purchased separately or together in this great value gift set aptly named - Fetch Me a Bath.

The beautifully designed dog gift set features a duo of naturally gentle organic pet shampoos with a free toy.

Perfect for dogs and puppies who aren't keen on bath time, the natural rubber ball can be used as a treat dispenser. This should keep the most anxious of dogs busy whilst you work up that lather.

allPaws shampoos contain some powerful natural ingredients -

🧡 Aloe Vera to naturally soothe and hydrate skin and hair,

🧡 Yucca to help to create foam suitable for sensitive skin

🧡 Pineapple Extract which removes dead skin cells from the skin

🧡 Marshmallow which calms redness and helps to maintain moisture levels

Hector a totally gorgeous short-haired Saluki tested the allPaws shampoo. Hector loves chasing anything from squirrels to cats, muntjacs to motorbikes. Here's what Liz and Hector thought -

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The allPaws shampoo foamed up really well so you could tell that it penetrated the hair and left it thoroughly washed. It rinsed easily and after towel drying left a slight mint smell. Initially I had been concerned it would smell too strong and unnatural but the aroma was mild and fresh. Hector was left with a gorgeously soft, fresh & shiny coat. I would definitely recommend the allPaws shampoo .

Buying Options

3. Best Dog Grooming Range

Pet Head

Specification

Coat Type - A range for all coats

Scent - Amazing

Dilute - No

Reasons to Buy

+ Part of a pampering grooming range

+ Conditioners, sprays, foams, wipes & paw butters also available

+ Easy to lather and rinse

+ Several fruity fragrances to choose from

Reasons to Avoid

- Not the cheapest

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Whatever your dog's grooming needs take a closer look at Pet Head. They offer an array of products all cleverly crafted with natural oils and extracts. Their ranges include :-

🫧 Furtastic - Moisturising to detangle long coats

🫧 Mucky Pup - Kind and gentle, perfect for puppies’ young and delicate skin

🫧 Ditch the Dirt - A deodorising range suitable for all dogs

🫧 Quick Fix - An easy range that makes cleaning more enjoyable for all

🫧 Sensitive Soul - A soothing range full of nourishing ingredients for dogs with delicate skin

From shampoos and conditioners to paw balms, soft foams, sprays and even wipes, we love that you can layer the scent by using a several products from the same range. Plus importantly, all their grooming products are suitable for all dog coat types.

We tested their popular Sensitive Soul range. Whilst it's mild and hypo-allergenic it combines oatmeal, coconut and marula oil, some proven powerful natural ingredients to clean your dogs coat.

We love that you simply lather into your dogs coat to remove dirt and grease, rinse and you're left with a soft shiny coat with an amazing, long-lasting fragrance of coconut with marula oil.

The hydrating paw balm is thick, creamy and seriously smells good enough to eat.

The truth is that the Pet Head products are designed to be used on their own or combined to create a spa like grooming session for your dog. Oh! and we adored the bone-shaped dispensing cap.

Buying Options

If you're interested we also tested the Pet Head Quick Fix Wipes for our new article - Best Dog Wipes : Paws and Perfection

4. Best Shampoo for Poodles

Choca-Doodle

Specification

Coat Type - Poodle type

Scent - Long lasting

Dilute - Yes

Reasons to Buy

+ Ideal for dense coats

+ Easy to rinse

+ Gorgeous scent

Reasons to Avoid

- Dogs with double coats

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In a recent survey dog groomers stated that 47% of the dogs they groom are poodles or doodles. So if you have a cockapoo, labradoodle, cavapoo or poochon, the Choca-Doodle dog bathing range has been designed for you.

These shampoos and conditioners from Groomers have been developed specifically for poodle-crosses which have super fluffy and dense coats that need regular clipping.

We recommend their 2 in 1 shampoo as it's designed specifically for dog hair that stands proud from the skin and it rinses really easily.

Anyone with a doodle will know how time-consuming rinsing can be. During testing we found that Coca-Doodle rinsed really easily, speeding up the whole bathing process and left a gorgeous sweet chocolate orange fragrance.

It's worth mentioning that although the bottle seems small, the 2 in 1 conditioning shampoo should be diluted before use, so this small bottle lasts a long time.

The Choca-Doodle range also includes a Conditioner and Comb Thru Spray which you can use in combination with the shampoo or use the spray between grooms.

Buying Options

5. Best Luxury Shampoo for Dogs

Ouai Fur Bébé

Specification

Coat Type - All types

Scent - Long lasting

Dilute - No

Reasons to Buy

+ Luxurious scent

+ Moisturising

+ Luxury option

Reasons to Avoid

- A bit pricey

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If you’re prepared to fork out a little more on a dog shampoo then take a look at Ouai. Ouai are a french company renowned for their human range of beautifully chic hair products.

Co-founded by hairstylist Jen Atkin, who has tended to the tresses of stars including supermodel Gigi Hadid and pop star Gwen Stefani. Earlier this year they brought our their Fur Bébé shampoo so your dog can look effortlessly chic too!

The vegan formulation is full of gentle but super powerful ingredients to hydrate and moisturise your pooch's coat and skin.

Free from nasties, it smells of their Mercer St signature fragrance - with Italian lemon, iris, white musk, lily, jasmine sambac and Turkish rose for some super sweet cuddles.

It even contains panthenol to soften and increase coat shine. Sounds good enough to use myself ...

Although it's on the pricey side, it's a big bottle holding nearly 1/2 litre of shampoo and the specially designed lid stops you wasting any shampoo too.

Buying Options

6. Best Shampoo for Puppies

WildWash

Specification

Coat Type - All types

Scent - Subtle

Dilute - Yes

Reasons to Buy

+ Mild for puppy coats

+ Easy to rinse

+ All natural

Reasons to Avoid

- Needs diluting before use

- Unscented

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If you've recently welcomed a puppy to your family and are searching for a suitable shampoo, we recommend WildWash Sensitive Shampoo for itchy, allergy skin and puppies. Specifically formulated with your little fluff-ball in mind.

We love that WildWash have formulated their puppy shampoo to give a light lather and rinse easily. This is essential for a puppy shampoo as keeping the little wrigglers in one place can be tricky.

Puppies have delicate and often more sensitive skin than adult dogs, so they need a much milder shampoo. This simple shampoo is also fragrance free and pH balanced to avoid any adverse reactions.

We love that all the WildWash products are natural and their puppy shampoo has a low-irritant formula enriched with aloe vera and evening primrose oils for their mild cleansing properties.

The shampoo is concentrated so you'll need to dilute it before use. Simple add a couple of pumps to a jug of warm water and mix well before use.

If you're interested, WildWash also offer a 1 Litre mixing bottle to make their shampoo even easier to use. Available in 300ml bottles from an extensive range of products including Pro-Detangle spray for matted fur.

WildWash suggest leaving the shampoo on your puppy's coat for 5 minutes to help the essential oils work their wonders.

Buying Options

7. Best Flea Shampoo

The Healthy Dog Co.

Specification

Coat Type - All

Scent - Subtle

Dilute - No

Reasons to Buy

+ Natural flea shampoo

+ No harsh chemicals

+ Soothes fleabites too

Reasons to Avoid

- If fleas aren't an issue

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If your dog is prone to fleas then this is definitely the shampoo for you.

These shampoos from the Healthy Dog Company aim to work at naturally and safely to remove fleas and insects and also keep your dog's coat glossy.

With a natural lemongrass scent,it also helps sooth fleabites and stop your dog itching.

Their natural flea dog shampoo has some amazing reviews from customers with dogs prone to fleas and itching.

It's worth noting though, that because it is natural, it is quite a watery consistency and doesn't produce a lot of lather easily. But don't be tempted to add more and more shampoo, it's designed to give a light lather and rinses really easily so great for dogs that want you to keep that bathing routine super quick.

The Healthy Dog Company also offer a Spot-on flea treatment and a household spray.

Buying Options

8. Best Shampoo for White Dogs

Wahl

Specification

Coat Type - White coats

Scent - Subtle

Dilute - No

Reasons to Buy

+ Ideal for white coats

+ Ideal for tear-stains

+ Great value

Reasons to Avoid

- Light scent

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There are lots of shampoos available on the market that are enhanced with ingredients to make your white or pale pooch’s coat gleam. These purple shampoos work in a similar way to our human purple shampoos for blonde highlights!

If you are looking for a whitening shampoo for your pale coloured dog, we would recommend Diamond White by Wahl.

Crafted by a globally known company, it's designed to enhance lighter coloured coats and it also removes any staining from mud or tears. Featuring white enhancers which aim to boost the natural pigmentation of your dog's coat.

Plus, it helps to moisturises and leaves fur soft to touch. This shampoo smells faintly of apples and pears.

If you're interested Wahl Diamond White can be used on dogs with multi-coloured coats as it won't lighten black or brown fur.

Buying Options

9. Best for Sensitive Skin

Vet's Best

Specification

Coat Type - Sensitive

Scent - No

Dilute - No

Reasons to Buy

+ Vet formulated

+ Use as often as you need

+ Free from 'nasties'

Reasons to Buy

- No lasting scent

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If your dog suffers with sensitive and dry skin then this is the pick for you. Vet's Best Hypoallergenic aloe vera shampoo is great at rebalancing their skin's moisture levels gently.

We recommend Vet's Best because they've been creating products to comfort and protect your dog for over 20 years. They have an unquestionable expertise when it comes to dog shampoos!

Their vet formulated shampoo has been crafted to be pH balanced, gentle and completely soap free so can be used as often as you need to remove allergens from your dog's coat.

As with the other shampoos featured in our top 10, massage the shampoo for 3 - 5 minutes to achieve the best results.

This shampoo can be used alongside some of their other treatments aimed at sensitive skin such as the Moisture Mist or their Best Ear Relief Wash & Dry.

Buying Options

10. Best Deep Cleaning

Animology

Specification

Coat Type - All types

Scent - Mild

Dilute - No

Reasons to Buy

+ Award winning formula

+ Great value

+ Mild for sensitive skins

+ Deals with Fox Poo!

Reasons to Avoid

- Scent not long lasting

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If you have a 'roller' then you've already discovered the amazing scent of fox poo. The scent is so bad that Animology decided fox poo warranted its very own shampoo!

Specially formulated, this shampoo is created to not only remove fox poo from your dog's coat but to remove the very persistent bad smell it leaves behind.

We love this shampoo because it does exactly what it says on the tin and the customer reviews back that up.

The scent left on your dog's coat (their signature fragrance) is mild but pleasant although it doesn't last long. If you're wondering about using it on a dog with sensitive skin then the shampoo is fairly mild and can be used on puppies from 6 weeks.

So if fox poo is your dogs idea of Chanel No.5 ( or the poo of any other animals including sheep, duck, badger and cow poo) - definitely take a look at Animology.

It's worth noting that Animology have recently rebranded their whole range of shampoos as well as adding a new product - Spa Day Skin & Coat Shampoo.

Buying Options

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Top Tips for Bathing your Pooch

Here's Smart Bark's top tips on bathing your pooch :-

✅ Brush before bathing

Don't be tempted to add more shampoo. Some dog shampoos are designed for limited foam so they are easier to rinse. This allows for speedy bath times and reduces the chance of any shampoo remaining on your dog after the bath

Check if the shampoo needs diluting. If so, prepare ahead of your dog's bath with a jug or better still a water bottle (easy to shake and mix)

Always leave the shampoo on your dog's coat for a few minutes before rinsing. This enables the ingredients and essential oils time to clean and moisturise your dog's coat

Don't rush the rinse. Shampoo residue can cause itching and skin irritation

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✅ If your dog really hates baths, consider investing in a LickiMat Splash.

This bowl shaped lick mat with a suction plate to stick to your bath or tiles.

Add some Pets Purest dog-friendly Peanut Butter and bingo a perfectly behaved and distracted dog whilst you shampoo!

Take a look at our review of lick mats and how they can help - Best Lick Mats for Dogs

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FAQs

Can I use human shampoo on my dog?

Human shampoo won't necessarily harm your dog as a one-off but they're not formulated at the same pH level as human shampoos. Long term they will be too harsh for your dog's skin and can cause itching and rashes.

How often should you wash your dog?

Generally, most dogs only need to be bathed about once a month. Dogs are much better left without being washed as they have sensitive skin and cleaning them too often can dry their skin and irritate their skin. Obviously use you own judgement, if they start to smell, it's time for a bath.

How often should I bathe my puppy?

Puppies are no different from adult dogs. Where possible try to bath once a month with a gentle puppy shampoo. In between monthly baths, simply wash their paws or mud off with water or hypoallergenic dog wipes.

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We hope you've found the perfect shampoo for your pampered pooch in our guide to the Best Dog Shampoos for 2024. Thanks for dropping by.

Best Dog Shampoos UK | Puppy Shampoo | Smart Bark (2024)
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